# US 8,540,430 B2 · Method for the production of a guide rail and guide rail > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,430 B2 - Document ID: US8540430B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/745,616 - Filed: 2007-12-04 - Published: 2011-02-10 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-12-04 - Assignees: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V. - Applicants: Toon Janssen - Inventors: Toon Janssen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540430B2 ## CPC - B60J 7/02: of sliding type {, e.g. comprising guide shoes} - B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05) ## Abstract The invention provides a method for the production of a guide rail of the type comprising at least two spaced apart guide faces which at corresponding sides are connected through a connecting web. A first step comprises manufacturing the guide rail in a configuration in which the guide faces, compared to their intended final position, are spaced apart further through an imaginary rotation around a part of the connecting web; a next step comprises moving the guide faces towards the intended final position. Further a guide rail is provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A guide rail comprising at least two spaced apart guide faces which at corresponding sides are connected through a connecting web provided with a living hinge extending in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail to provide a folding axis, the connecting web comprising cooperating fastening elements at opposite sides of the living hinge, wherein the guide faces are movable to a final position that defines a guiding channel in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, and wherein the cooperating fastening elements, in the final position, are aligned with each other and spaced away from the guiding channel in a lateral direction such that the cooperating fastening elements are disposed between the folding axis and the guiding channel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The guide rail according to claim 1, wherein the guide rail is manufactured from plastic material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The guide rail according to claim 1, wherein the fastening elements comprise holes configured for receiving a fastening member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The guide rail according to claim 1, wherein the fastening elements comprise cooperating snap members. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The guide rail according to claim 1, wherein the guide rail includes integral connecting elements which are configured to be connected to external parts. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The guide rail according to claim 1, wherein, in the final position, the guide faces form openings to the guiding channel at opposite ends of the guide rail. ### Claim 7 A guide rail comprising at least two spaced apart guide faces which at corresponding sides are connected through a connecting web, wherein the connecting web is provided with a living hinge extending in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, wherein parts of the web at opposite sides of the living hinge are configured with mating profiles so as to engage each other in the final position of the guide faces. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The guide rail according to claim 7, wherein the connecting web comprises cooperating fastening elements at opposite sides of the living hinge, wherein the fastening elements comprise holes configured for receiving a fastening member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The guide rail according to claim 7, wherein the connecting web comprises cooperating fastening elements at opposite sides of the living hinge, wherein the fastening elements comprise cooperating snap members. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The guide rail according to claim 7, wherein the guide rail includes integral connecting elements which are configured to be connected to external parts. ### Claim 11 A method for the production of a guide rail comprising at least two spaced apart guide faces which at corresponding sides are connected through a connecting web, the method comprising: manufacturing the guide rail in a configuration in which the guide faces, compared to final position, are spaced apart further, the guide faces being rotatable around a living hinge of the connecting web extending in a longitudinal direction of the guide rail to provide a folding axis, the connecting web comprising cooperating fastening elements at opposite sides of the living hinge; and moving the guide faces towards the final position in which the guide faces define a guiding channel extending in the longitudinal direction of the guide rail, wherein in the final position the cooperating fastening elements are aligned with each other and spaced away from the guiding channel in a lateral direction such that the cooperating fastening elements are disposed between the folding axis and the guiding channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein manufacturing includes manufacturing the guide rail from plastic material with a living hinge in the connecting web in a configuration in which the guide faces, compared to the final position, are spaced apart further through an imaginary folding of the connecting web around said living hinge; and wherein moving the guide faces towards the final position includes folding the guide faces around the living hinge. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, and further comprising stabilizing the guide faces in the final position after folding. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein stabilizing the guide faces in the final position after folding comprises fastening opposite sides of the living hinge using the fastening elements. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein fastening comprises aligning holes which will be aligned in the final position of the guide faces, wherein the holes are configured for receiving a fastening member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the fastening member comprises snap members which will cooperate in the final position of the guide faces. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, and further comprising providing parts of the web at opposite sides of the living hinge with mating profiles so as to engage each other in the final position of the guide faces. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein manufacturing includes providing integral connecting elements in the guide rail. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein manufacturing the guide rail occurs through injection-molding. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the guide faces and connecting web are manufactured as an integral body.